Jodie Sloss and Hannah Grisham selected for 2026 Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy
- RACERS
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Two female drivers have been shortlisted by Aston Martin for its 2026 AMR Driver Academy, as Scottish racer Jodie Sloss and American driver Hannah Grisham have been named among the 22 rising GT talents chosen for the programme.
Two female drivers have been shortlisted by Aston Martin for its 2026 AMR Driver Academy, as Scottish racer Jodie Sloss and American driver Hannah Grisham have been named among the 22 rising GT talents chosen for the programme, joining a globally diverse list competing for one of sportscar racing’s most prestigious manufacturer-backed development opportunities.
Announced at Aston Martin’s headquarters, the latest edition of the Academy continues the British marque’s pathway for nurturing endurance racing talent, with participants drawn from customer teams competing in GT3 and GT4 machinery worldwide. The programme aims to identify the next generation of professional endurance racers, offering structured development, factory mentorship, and significant career support for the eventual winner.
The academy has become a proven launchpad within international GT racing, producing multiple high-profile graduates now competing at the highest levels of sportscar competitions. Among its success stories is reigning academy winner Kobe Pauwels, who is set to make his FIA World Endurance Championship debut at Imola with the Heart of Racing Team while also contesting a full GT World Challenge Europe campaign. Previous graduates include Aston Martin works drivers Ross Gunn and Roman De Angelis, both now central figures in the manufacturer’s global endurance racing programmes.
For 2026, drivers from ten different countries will represent at least ten Aston Martin partner teams across major championships, including GT World Challenge Europe, IMSA, European Le Mans Series programmes, and leading GT4 categories.
The inclusion of Jodie Sloss and Hannah Grisham represents an important step in both drivers’ careers.
For Sloss, it is her third inclusion in the programme, having first been included among the list of talented youngsters in 2024, with renewed support in 2025.
Sloss has been competing with Aston Martin Vantage GT4 machinery in GT Cup UK, securing class podiums, before a breakthrough season in 2025 where she contested her first international campaign in FFSA French GT, finishing third in the AM standings with an impressive streak of podiums and a victory. In 2026, the Scottish driver returned to the French GT Championship, and claimed a double podium at the season opener in Nogaro.
Hannah Grisham won the Heart of Racing female driver shootout in 2023, securing a seat in the team's first all-female duo in Pirelli GT4 America. She went on to secure her first win in Indianapolis, and continued in the program in 2024 with the team, claiming more podium finishes. In 2025 she made one-off appearances in the team's GT3 Vantage in 24H Series, while also contending for podiums in the Silver class of GT4 America. In 2026, Grisham has moved to IMSA Pilot Challenge, again aboard the Vantage GT4 operated by The Heart of Racing.
The pair will now undergo a season-long evaluation process combining on-track performance with broader professional development criteria.
The successful academy graduate will receive factory backing toward their 2027 racing programme alongside a test in a contemporary Aston Martin Vantage GT3. The judging panel includes Aston Martin endurance racing legend Darren Turner, multiple Le Mans class winner Jonny Adam, and works driver Valentin Hasse Clot, supported by senior Aston Martin Racing leadership and performance specialists.
